Belfast students honoured at Young Enterprise Awards

Strathearn Grammar School and Park School recognised at Belfast City Hall ceremony

Students from two Belfast schools have been honoured for their business prowess at the annual Young Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards.

Strathearn Grammar School gained Special Recognition for most profitable at the ceremony for their ‘company’ Fair Play while Park School won the regional and UK-wide prizes for the best presentation.

Fair Play is a fun and interactive memory game designed to entertain players while encouraging. concentration and problem-solving skills. The team from Strathearn impressed the judges not only with their product, Fair Play, but with their commitment to innovation. Since starting the project in September, the students have managed everything from prototype design to local market research, gaining invaluable real-world experience.

It was among six school teams competing in the Company Programme, with judges drawn from business supporters, including Lead Partner, Send My Bag, and new Impact Partners, Staffline and Version 1.

The Best Presentation award was given to the student company from Where’s Ma Keys, Park School. The students entered a four-minute video highlighting their business journey including their goals, brand, and products. They identified what they learnt about their business, the skills they developed, and what they are most proud of as a team.

Young Enterprise NI Chief Executive, Carol Fitzsimons MBE, said:

“Congratulations to all the companies and students that have been honoured at the Young Enterprise Awards as they once again show us that the future of our economy is incredibly safe hands.

“Our programmes are about much more than starting a business – they are about building confidence, teamwork and real-world skills that will benefit these young people in whatever path they choose next. We’re incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished and wish all students the very best as they continue in their education and careers.”

Jonathan Williamson, Chief Operating Officer at EY lead sponsor of the awards, said:

“We are proud to support the Young Enterprise NI Awards and to celebrate the ambition, creativity and resilience demonstrated by students across Northern Ireland.

“These young people are developing vital skills in leadership, innovation and problem-solving that will serve them well in the future world of work.

“At EY, we are committed to helping build a better working world, and initiatives like this play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of business leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers. We congratulate all of this year’s participants on their achievements.”

Queen’s University Belfast is the lead educational partner for Young Enterprise NI’s flagship Company Programme.

Professor Julie McCandless, Queen’s University Belfast added:

“We are proud to support Young Enterprise NI’s Company Programme, which continues to inspire and equip young people with the skills, confidence and ambition needed for the future world of work.

“The creativity, innovation and commitment demonstrated by this year’s finalists highlight the strength of entrepreneurial talent coming through Northern Ireland’s schools, and we congratulate all of the students on their achievements.”

Young Enterprise is a business education charity which helps young people learn skills for the world of work and is primarily funded by the business community.

For information on Young Enterprise NI and how you can support its work, visit www.yeni.co.uk.